If you've read my op on Bury St Edmunds, then you'll have seen that I said there wasn't much in the way of fun and entertainment, so here I am in my precious half-term and I'm bored, and I suddenly realise what I can do. Karting (you should have got that by now!)
Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, ... Read review
Advantages: Absolutely brilliant fun!! Disadvantages: Expect a few aches the next day
If you've read my op on Bury St Edmunds, then you'll have seen that I said there wasn't much in the way of fun and entertainment, so here I am in my precious half-term and I'm bored, and I suddenly realise what I can do. Karting (you should have got that by now!)
Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, David Coulthard - you name - they all started their careers in these little things. It's the way to kick start a career in motorsport (that ... ...while your doing it. So I'm going to go through what happened when I went to the Red Lodge Karting Centre near Newmarket.
WHERE IS RED LODGE
In between Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, Red Lodge is actually in a small villiage called Kennett. It's a little off the A14 and a little hard to get to, but if you know where your going it won't take long to find.
ANYTHING SPECIAL ABOUT RED LODGE? more
If you've read my op on Bury St Edmunds, then you'll have seen that I said there wasn't much in the way of fun and entertainment, so here I am in my precious half-term and I'm bored, and I suddenly realise what I can do. Karting (you should have got that by now!)
Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, David Coulthard - you name - they all started their careers in these little things. It's the way to kick start a career in motorsport (that and plenty of cash), not to mention have great fun while your doing it. So I'm going to go through what happened when I went to the Red Lodge Karting Centre near Newmarket.
WHERE IS RED LODGE
In between Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, Red Lodge is actually in a small villiage called Kennett. It's a little off the A14 and a little hard to get to, but if you know where your going it won't take long to find.
ANYTHING SPECIAL ABOUT RED LODGE?
Actually yes. The son of the man who owns the place is Luke Stevens, who was crowned British Formula Renault champion last year. Formula Renault is a stepping stone towards F1 and numerous people on the F1 grid today can say that they took part but they didn't win. He practices there a lot when he does karting.
PRICES
The prices aren't great. The sessions are spilt into 15 minute slots and each 15 minutes costs £13 for 1 person. If you take the faster karts (you need to be qualified for that), then it's £21 a time.
15 MINUTES - £13 per person
BEFORE YOU START
Before you start there is the customary briefing. The track is large, but you can only go along the short circuit in the slower karts. They describe it for you too. They run through the different flags and what happens when they are waved and you are told to pit if you go off the track and all 4 wheels were onto the grass.
THE TRACK
The track we were to go on was the Short outside Track. There isn't a straight but a long, slight left hander, which sweeps into a difficult left hander, where it is hard to get grip and brake in a straight line. Then accelerate into the next right hander. Keep it tight but don't hit the inside kerb. Power into the next corner and into the slowest on the track and sweep round the long last corner and away for another lap. The laps are arpund 30 seconds long.
GETTING READY
You've had the quick 1 minute briefing, then it's time to get into your kart and get ready to go once you are wearing overalls, a helmet and gloves. Try and get your own ones as these are a little smelly and sweaty.
THE KARTS
The karts are small. They aren't like the proper racers Karts. They are smaller and the bumpers are heavier and more industrial. The wheels are slightly bigger for better grip and they are quite a bit slower.
THE EXPERIANCE
Then it's time for the off. You don't line up on a grid, just power out into the next corner. A tip for beginners, be slow as you go and try and get the right pedals. My foot got loged last time and I went straight off, just avoiding the barrier. The small seats are harsh and the rigid suspension plays havoc with your bum, but the adrenalin rush is amazing. The Karts feel a lot faster on the go and although you feel every bump on the track, you are just aiming to get faster and faster. The steering is quite stiff and when I hit a kerb at 50mph, I bent the arm and it just got stiffer and stiffer. Setting good times is all well and good, but try and go with someone of similar standard and have a race. Bear in mind if you crash heavily you aren't allowed to carry on, be restrained but the odd nudge and shove is allowed. I went with my Dad, who is very good and much to my surprise I kept up with him and best of all, by the end I was ahead. On this type of smooth track it pays to be neat round the corners, and although my aggressive style won, I made numerous mistakes. An aggressive style is probably moe suited to the sharp, twists and turns of indoor tracks.
My performance was enough to grant me a licence to drive faster karts around the longer track so I am going to try that next time I go.
It is very important to go when the track is dry and not wet. I have been once when it was wet and it was really hard. They keep slick tyres on and when it's pouring down with rain and there is no grip, it's hard to get round one corner. You can't brake properly, you understeer if you haven't spun and the wheels spin as you get away, which usually results in a turn around. Think of it as wearing ballet shoes on ice and you see where I'm coming from.
In the next few hours prior to Karting you may feel a little achey around the arms and the bum. Such was the rigidity of my steering, I had cramp in my hands and I couldn't bend them without pain for 20 minutes. But if you think back to the experiance, it doesn't matter.
MY TOP TIPS TO A PERFECT LAP
1. If you are on an outside course, be sure not to slam into the kerbs. Although they look small, in a low down kart, they are huge and if you hit full on them you can damage the kart, bang your knee and jarr your back.
2. At Red Lodge the bottom of the kerbs are made of concrete. Aim for the flat pieces and you'll have a tight line.
3. Try and get good lines into the corner. If you are not being pressurised, get to the opposite side of the track and swing in, to get a flat, smooth line through the corner and into the next corner.
4. Let the kart run wide out of corners but again avoid the kerbs
5. Dont go when it's raining
6. Try and find flat lines and not bumpy ones.
Follow these and you'll be on the way to Grand Prix glory. Sorry, not really. You have to have more money than talent these days (Pedro Diniz and Enrique Bernoldi, I'm looking your way)
OVERALL
Fantastic. Nothing less. Just fun, intense and totally brilliant experiance. Have a go, really. It's not hard but every bit as fun! Now I'd better go and rest my aching muscles!
SOLEX/OLLIE
P.S I don't know why the below things are there, I think Ciao have made a mistake. Karting is not a book. I'm just going to put anyting
The Three Sisters circuit is situated near Wigan, and within 5 minutes drive of the M6 motorway. This outdoor circuit is run by The Aintree Racing Drivers' School, and is 1100 metres in length for karting use. This means it is very open, wide and easy to overtake on compared to an indoor karting circuit, and there are some challenging corners and long straights.
Another advantage is the karts themselves. These are twin engined "Pro karts" and are ... ...means they have much better response than the single engined indoor karts, and are capable of top speed of 70 mph.
I have experienced the "Arrive and Drive" karting package on three occasions now, and have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. On each occasion I have gone on an organised Company day out.
At the start of the session each driver signs in and is allocated a racing number. There is then a short safety video to show drivers how to ...
gray 13.07.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Karting/GoKarting - General
Advantages: Total adrenalin rush Disadvantages: Sore behind
Karting is my passion, the following guidelines have improved my driving skills and helped me perform my best.
This article on karting will cover handling the steering wheel, establishing the right posture and chassis setup. Use of my depth perception and keen awareness to hit the right spots and manoeuvre my kart to the lead.
By depth perception and awareness I mean plotting out the track ahead of me. I do not pay as much attention to the position ... ...focus my mind on what lies beyond my opponents? kart and the potential gaps around my opponent. Many multi-kart accidents on the track result from the trailing driver focusing on the position of the kart which either spun out or crashed. For example, instead of trying to avoid the wreck, the driver focuses on the kart or mass of karts ahead. If I am the trailing driver, I try to keep my eyes and concentration on the gap around the kart ahead. The ...
joeyhey2007 23.11.2008 (15.02.2009)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Karting/GoKarting - General
Advantages: Fast. clsoe racing, good friendly fun. Lets you get to know people too! Disadvantages: Can be dangerous, but when well organsied and marshalled the risk is minimised.
Oxford Karting takes place at Oxford Stadium, Oxfordshire, where there is also the Speedway track, home of the Oxford Cheetahs and the greyhound track. I went to the Go Karting yesterday with my workmates and other companies from the business park where I work. We were going for a two hour endurance race. This was thirty minutes practice and an hour and a half racing. We were in teams of roughly six and there were eight teams in all. I had been Go ... ...yesterday was outdoors at Oxford. In the daytime it had rained, so the track was still quiote wet, which made driving very interesting! The karts have an approximate top speed of 55mph! This seems even faster when you are sat so close to the ground! We were kitted out with gloves, overalls and helmets, then given a safety briefing and told about the karts. The track seems well organised and safety conscious. The marshalls are quick to respond and ...
PeterFarrell 26.09.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Karting/GoKarting - General
Advantages: fast karts, excellent circuit, friendly staff, clean place Disadvantages: price is high, but so is all karting
Karting has got to be one of the most fun and exciting activities you can possibly go and do.
Recently i have entered a couple of open races at the Daytona Circuit in Milton Keynes. Arriving at this circuit is like no other i have every been to. Unlike many crabby circuits, with their karts that are unrelieable, and the building area is not a nice place to spend time, this place is excellent. You walk in, and you sign on using the touch screen computers, ... ...are printed off, and you sing to the disclaimer form. Everywhere is clean and tidy, changing rooms and toilets are no problem here at all. They also have lockers to keep your stuff while you are racing, and a cafe area for spectators to grab some refreshments. The karts here are all kept to the highest standard, and i have never seen any of their karts having mechanical problems while i have been there. They have two diffeerent hire karts available, ...
jaguarchallenge 19.05.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Karting/GoKarting - General
Advantages: Great track with top facilities and karts Disadvantages: None
The "Pole Position" Leeds venue is reletively new, being opened earlier this year but the owner has a good deal of experience having already got a well established venue in neighbouring Bradford.
Location
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The circuit is located about a mile from Leeds city centre, you head out of town on the Hunslett road. It's not easy to find and not all that well sign posted so you are advised to check directions being visiting.
Facilities
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... ...going to be to everyones liking but you do have the advantage of guaranteed dry racing. There is a large car park with almost new changing rooms and a small cafe area where there are also drinks machines located.
The staff appear to be knowledgeable and are friendly and approachable.
Safety
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All important even when travelling at reletively slow speeds. The course has plenty of marshals located around the track with flags which will be waved ...
DavidJWest 06.09.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Karting/GoKarting - General
